They say birds of a feather flock together, and that is so for the blackbirds, who find strength and winter warmth in numbers.

An estimated 50,000 blackbirds were reported from the Great Bog in Portsmouth on Oct. 30, and were included in New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, Nov. 4.

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Blackbirds winter together in large flocks which can number in the millions.

They enjoy swamp areas and each other's company and protection from predators, although sometimes human neighbors do not like their noise.

While not in the millions, this was a sizable flock.

A flock of 11 cattle egrets was reported from South Road in Candia on Oct. 29, but they have not been reported again.

A female yellow-headed blackbird was seen from Portsmouth Avenue in Seabrook on Oct. 30, a male yellow-headed blackbird was seen from Hooksett Street in Seabrook on Oct. 31, and a male was seen near Ocean Drive in Seabrook on Nov. 4.

An adult male yellow-headed blackbird was seen in Durham on Oct. 29, but was not seen again.

A golden eagle was seen migrating south over Sandwich on Nov. 2.

A first-winter Iceland gull was seen from Front Park on Lake Massabesic in Auburn on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, and one was seen at Ragged Neck in Rye on Nov. 2.

An Iceland gull was also seen at Rockingham Park in Salem on Nov. 4.

A laughing gull was seen at coastal Rye on Nov. 2.

A worm-eating warbler was reported from the Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth on Oct. 29, but was not relocated.

An orange-crowned warbler was seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on Oct. 30.

Late-migrating warblers seen during the past week included an ovenbird in Concord on Nov. 2, a Tennessee warbler in Hancock on Oct. 31, a Nashville warbler in Concord on Nov. 4, a pine warbler in Salem on Nov. 4, a palm warbler in Sandwich on Nov. 2, and a palm warbler in Concord on Oct. 31.

A flock of eight red crossbills was reported from atop Little Round Top mountain in Bristol on Oct. 28.

Eighty snow buntings were seen at Hampton Beach State Park on Nov. 1, 38 snow buntings were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on Nov. 4, two snow buntings were reported from atop Pack Monadnock in Peterborough on Oct. 28, and four were seen on Mount Cardigan in Orange on Oct. 30.

Two lapland longspurs were seen at Ragged Neck in Rye on Nov. 1.

A pair of evening grosbeaks was seen in New London on Oct. 31, a female evening grosbeak was seen in Plainfield on Nov. 1, and an evening grosbeak was heard flying over in Pittsfield on Nov. 4.

A northern saw-whet owl was heard in Penacook on Oct. 28, and again on Nov. 1.

Four lesser yellowlegs were seen at Hampton Marsh on Nov. 1.

Two American woodcocks were reported from Ellsworth on Nov. 2, and one was seen in Concord on Nov. 1.

Two razorbills and a black guillemot were seen on the coast on Nov. 1.

A brant was seen migrating south on the coast on Nov. 1.

Two red-necked grebes and a greater scaup were reported from Newfound Lake on Oct. 28.

Twelve black scoters and a long-tailed duck were seen at Potanipo Pond in Brookline on Nov. 1, and a surf scoter and a long-tailed duck were seen in Concord on Nov. 1. There were 21 black scoters seen on Post Pond in Lyme on Oct. 31.

There were 52 buffleheads tallied on Squam Lake on Nov. 2.

A great egret was seen in Rye on Nov. 1.

A pied-billed grebe was seen on Powder Mill Pond in Hancock on Oct. 31, and again on Nov. 2.

An American coot, 21 ruddy ducks, a northern pintail, three greater yellowlegs, a killdeer, and 10 American pipits were seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on Oct. 28.

Four American coots were reported from World End Pond in Salem on Nov. 4.

A lesser scaup and 11 ruddy ducks were reported from Canobie Lake in Salem on Nov. 4.

Ten American pipits were seen in Hancock on Oct. 31.

A number of fox sparrows, rusty blackbirds, and American tree sparrows were reported from scattered locations during the past week.

To date, the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in Peterborough has counted over 13,300 raptors, the Carter Hill Observatory in Concord has counted over 6,700 raptors, and hawk-watchers on Little Round Top in Bristol have seen over 2,700 raptors.

Of particular note was a golden eagle seen on Oct. 30, and a golden eagle seen on Nov. 2, both from Pack Monadnock.

Pack Monadnock and Carter Hill will be staffed by NH Audubon through mid-November.

If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail at: birdsetc@nhaudubon.org. Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number.